Los Angeles County Assesor's Office - Good Starting Job?

[emajinthis]

Hello,
I am interested in becoming a real estate appraiser in the state of California. However, as you all know, it's difficult to break into the field. A friend of mine has taken a job with the county assesor's office and claims that this is an alternative method to entering the appraisal profession. I do know that the county assesor's are required to be licensed by the state Board of Equalization and that the assesor's office is mainly interested in appraising real estate for taxation purposes. Can anyone tell me if a job in the county assesor's office is a good way to get started in real estate appraisal? More importantly, is the theory and practice of assesor's appraisal applicable to real estate/fee appraisal? Lastly, does anyone know if the hours I work at the assesor's will be applied towards my state fee appraisal license? Thanks! :mrgreen:

 

[George Hatch]

Working with an assessors office is a great way to break in. In California, working for CalTrans is another great alternative. As a bonus, these fields of appraisal practice (Ad Valorem and Condemnation) will be the very last ones to succumb to the virus of "Technology-above-all-else". Not only that but the hours are regular, weekends and holidays off, government benefits, and there is little likelihood a 50-year old appraiser will be thrown out of a job just because they are getting close to earning a retirement (unlike almost every lending institution I know of). Most of these agencies even supply a government maintained car or truck.

If you can get in, you should go for it. Even if you don't like the working conditions or the assignments (they truly look at everything), it's a great education, a great work and experience reference, and you'll get your license/certification probably faster than anywhere else, all at full salary. There are almost no other opportunities of this caliber anywhere else.


And no, I have never worked for an assessor or other state agency. I wish I had, though.

George Hatch

 

[George Hatch]

And yes, the hours are applicable toward your license/certification in California, according to state regulations.

 

[emajinthis]

Thanks George!